Stuart Hall - Representation Theories

• Stuart Hall was a cultural theorist, and he discuses culture's central role in representation. He looks at the issue within the most commonly used definition of representation, meaning to re- present something which already holds meaning.
• The interpretation of meaning changes from person to person, and is completely dependent on the historical and cultural context from when and where it is being presented or seen. Therefore, there is no one fixed meaning from which to re- present.
• Absence & Meaning - Hall draws attention to way absence in imagery is equally as important as what is marked or what is there within the image.
• Ideologies and Power - Hall states that it is essential that meaning can be altered. Meaning can only change because it cannot be finally fixed. Power's purpose in language or image is to attempt to FINALLY FIX meaning, and naturalise the idea that the assigned meaning to image is the only meaning that it could possibly carry. It intends to close language, close meaning and stop the flow.
• Stereotypes - Stereotyping fixes the meanings that are given to groups limiting the range of perceptions that people can have about a group; what they can do, what the nature of the constraints on them are, etc. 
• Challenging Stereotypes - A common strategy in challenging negative stereotypes is to represent negative stereotypes in a more positive way - reversing the stereotype. However, the problem with reversal or positive stereotypes is, just as we cannot finally fix the negative representations, we cannot finally fix positive ones either.
• Exposing Power Structures - Hall argues that what we need to do is go inside the image or go inside the stereotype and use it against itself, opening up the practice of representation. This exposes the politics and power structures within the image.
• It is important that we get inside the image and occupy the very terrain in ways that make it uninhabitable for very.
• Making the stereotype uninhabitable destroys normality, keeping representation open to new kinds of knowledge in the world, new kinds of subjectivities and possibilities for new identities to be made.

Stuart Hall's theory of representation states that white, middle class heterosexual men have the most power in the media industry and therefore representations of women and ethnic minority characters tend to be reduced to stereotypical, often negative portrayals.

• How far do you agree that this is true in Stranger Things?
• Jim Hopper fits the idea of a heterosexual, white male in power as the sheriff, as in the first episode of season 1, he goes in to work late and doesn't really care about anyone's opinion on it as he is the boss. He also interrupts his assistant(?) when she is talking about what needs to be done, he just loudly repeats, "coffee and contemplation!" without really giving any care into the work that has to be done. Furthermore, when Joyce shows up freaking out about Will being missing, Hopper tries to write it off as, 'well, that's just sometimes what kids do' and Joyce has to really push on the issue, showing the audience subtle hints of women being represented as minor characters.
• How far do you agree that this is true in Deutschland 83?
• Martin Rauch's aunt is actually the one in control as she blackmails him with the well-being of his family to get him to do her bidding and become a spy in the West.